If you’re looking for the best things to do in Spain then keep reading! We spent two amazing weeks in Spain in November 2019. For the first half of the trip we were soaking up beautiful Madrid, and for the second half we were living it up Cheetah Girl style in Barcelona. I wanted to make the most of our time there so I sat down and thought about what I wanted to see and what type of activities I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to go to museums, take a cooking class, and do something active, but I also wanted to do something a little artsy/creative. And of course, I wanted to shop. While this was my birthday trip, I chose to be diplomatic and gave everyone a chance to weigh in on what we’d do. I used Google Docs to provide everyone a short list of researched options for the different categories of activities.
Before leaving for our trip I planned out each of my outfits carefully. I checked the weather forecast for Madrid and Barcelona and the temperatures were supposed to be in the mid-50’s to low 60s – chilly but not freezing cold. This meant sweaters, tights to pair with dresses, and a light jacket or two.
I planned to do a lot of shopping in Spain so I wanted to have plenty of space left over in my luggage for all my loot. I did this by packing items that could do double and triple duty like a sweater that could be worn with multiple bottoms or a bottom that could be worn with several tops. I also packed a couple versatile bags and shoes that could be worn with most of my outfits.
Comfort was key because I knew we’d be walking a lot, but I wasn’t about to sacrifice on style. My Sam Edelman leopard loafers certainly met this requirement. They’re very comfortable since they have a cushioned footbed but they look so chic with their richly colored calf-hair. I got several compliments on them while we were out exploring and my feet never ached.
I did a little shopping before our trip and scored some really nice cable knit sweaters from TJ Maxx in chartreuse and emerald that I was able to pair with multiple bottoms as you can see from some of the pics here.
On travel days, I opted for sweatsuits and jogger suits. Remember this one from my post last year? I wore it when we flew back (minus the heels, of course) and it was great. I felt really comfortable but still put together.
The most important outfit of all though was what I wore for my birthday dinner. I wanted a dress that made a statement but didn’t come off as trying too hard. When I saw this dress on ASOS’ website I knew it was perfect. The beading, the cut, and the colors of the dress were beautiful. When I got it and tried it on I was in love. The dress had some heft to it as well. All of the beading and sequins were heavy!
In addition to all of this, I packed some lightweight shorts and leggings for my morning workouts and a pair of sneakers for a hike we took in the mountains about an hour outside of Madrid’s city center.
Next up, I’ll share more details about the hike and the other activities we did. These were definitely the highlight of our trip so you’ll want to stay tuned.
This was the most exciting (and stressful) part of planning my trip. Where to eat in NOLA?! With so many amazing restaurants in NOLA where does one begin. What helped was having an idea of the kinds of food I wanted to try. Beignets were a must as was food you tend to think of when you think about NOLA (think gumbo or po’boys) but I also wanted to find something a little off the beaten path. Once I knew what kinds of food I wanted to eat, then it was just a matter of researching the best places to go to get my fix.
There’s so much to do, see, and eat in NOLA. But more on that last one next week! This week I’m sharing recommendations for things to do in New Orleans. And no worries, if you’re short on time. I managed to fit all these activities in a 48 hour trip without feeling too rushed.
I’m no stranger to humidity as a Palmetto State native but NOLA humidity is something special. Breathable, airy clothes are probably a good idea. My trip to New Orleans last month involved a lot of mesh, but natural, lighter weight fabrics like cotton or linen would have also worked really well. 
